Review of Catholic sisters raises questions

The Vatican’s review of Catholic sisters in the United States started earlier this year and is expected to last a couple of years.Now, many congregations of sisters are beginning a key phase of the process: filling out a questionnaire that — among other topics — asks how faithful sisters are about Catholic doctrines and attending Mass.

One interesting part of the questionnaire asks congregations to lay out “the process for responding to sisters who dissent publicly or privately from the authoritative teaching of the church.”Some argue that religious orders in general, whether male or female, have provided a much-needed avenue for frank debate and creative discussion that dioceses and other hierarchical institutions don’t and shouldn’t provide. Those in the orders are the ones pushing the envelope, so to speak.Others argue that a history of laxity and structure have allowed the orders to go too far astray and they need to be reined in.What do you think?To me, what makes this so interesting is that sisters, historically, have founded many universities and hospitals. These institutions, including ones in San Antonio, have contributed to the charitable capacity of cities. So it’s hard to imagine any major reforms mandated once the review is completed.